plate no. 1061
The Seine by the Trocadero
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose watercolor washes and capturing atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in simplifying complex architectural forms with expressive brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the bridge, the buildings, and the horizon line.
- step 02
Apply a thin wash of diluted yellow ochre or raw sienna to the sky area, leaving some areas untouched for clouds.
- step 03
Mix blues and greens to create washes for the water, varying the intensity to suggest depth and movement.
- step 04
Use a darker blue or indigo to define the bridge structure, using broken lines to suggest detail.
- step 05
Add the foliage with loose, gestural brushstrokes, using a mix of greens and blues.
- step 06
Define the buildings with a light wash of grey or beige, adding darker blue accents for shadows and architectural details.
- step 07
Add reflections in the water using similar colors to the objects above, but slightly blurred and diluted.
- step 08
Refine details and add final touches, such as figures on the bridge or boats in the water.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · raw sienna
secondary · sap green · burnt umber · titanium white
Mix ultramarine blue with yellow ochre to create various shades of green. Dilute colors with water to achieve transparent washes. Use burnt umber to darken blues and create shadows.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·watercolor washes
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, losing the loose and expressive quality.
- →Using too much water, resulting in uncontrolled blooms and runs.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Failing to establish a clear focal point.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper 140lb
- ·watercolor paints
- ·round brushes (sizes #4, #8)
- ·flat brush (size #6)
- ·water container
- ·palette
- ·pencil
- ·eraser
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·palette knife
- ·kneaded eraser
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.
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